English · KJV
H5055

נָגַח

nâgach /naw-gakh'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto butt with the horns; figuratively, to war against
KJV usagegore, push (down, -ing).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâgach — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nâgach, represented by H5055, is a primitive root that means to butt with the horns. It appears 11 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible. While its base meaning is a physical act, it is figuratively used to describe warring against an opponent and is translated as gore or push (down, -ing).

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5055 is used in both literal and figurative contexts. Its literal application is found in legal codes, where it describes an ox H7794 that may gore a man or a woman Exodus 21:28 or push a servant Exodus 21:32. Figuratively, the term is a powerful metaphor for military conflict and conquest. It is used to describe how Israel will push down its enemies through God's power Psalms 44:5. This imagery is also central to prophecy, as when Zedekiah makes iron horns H7161 to symbolize pushing the Syrians to their destruction 1 Kings 22:11 and in Daniel's vision of a ram pushing in all directions, unopposed Daniel 8:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context and impact of this aggressive action:

  • H7161 qeren (horn): This is the instrument used for the action of H5055. It is used metaphorically as the horn of salvation Psalms 18:2 and literally in the prophecy where iron horns are made to represent the act of pushing Syria until it is consumed 1 Kings 22:11.
  • H7794 shôwr (ox, bullock): This is the animal most directly associated with the literal act of goring. The law in Exodus specifies the consequences if an ox gores a person Exodus 21:28 or pushes a servant Exodus 21:32, grounding the word in agricultural and legal reality.
  • H1920 hâdaph (to push away or down): This verb, meaning to thrust or drive away, is used in conjunction with H5055 to intensify the description of an attack. The corrupt leaders of Israel are condemned because they thrust with side and shoulder and pushed the weak with their horns Ezekiel 34:21.

Theological Significance

The theological and metaphorical weight of H5055 is significant, moving from a physical act to a symbol of power and judgment.

  • Legal Accountability: The word is foundational in the Law of Moses for establishing responsibility. The detailed rules for an ox that gores a person establish a clear principle of accountability for the actions of one's property (Exodus 21:28, Exodus 21:31).
  • Metaphor for Warfare: H5055 consistently serves as a metaphor for military conquest. Israel expresses its trust that God will enable them to push down their enemies H6862 Psalms 44:5, and prophetic visions use the term to describe conflicts between kings Daniel 11:40.
  • Symbol of Dominion and Power: The act of pushing symbolizes national strength and divinely-ordained dominion. In the blessing on Joseph's descendants, their power is compared to the horns of unicorns H7214, with which they will push the people together Deuteronomy 33:17. This illustrates a nation's ability to exert its will.

Summary

In summary, H5055 is more than a simple verb of action. It begins as a concrete term for an animal goring with its horns and evolves into a potent biblical symbol. It carries the weight of legal responsibility in the Torah and serves as a vivid metaphor for military force, national dominance, and the execution of power in both historical and prophetic contexts.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 11 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יִגַּח
  • תְּנַגַּח
  • יִתְנַגַּח
  • נְנַגֵּחַ
  • תְּנַגְּחוּ
  • יְנַגַּח
  • מְנַגֵּחַ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7794 שׁוֹר from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). H7161 קֶרֶן from קָרַן; a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a H1920 הָדַף a primitive root; to push away or down; cast away (out), drive, expel, thrust (away). H6862 צַר or צָר; from צָרַר; compare as in צֹר; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pe H7214 רְאֵם or רְאֵיםlemma רְאיֵם second vowel, corrected to רְאֵים; or רֵים; or רֵם; from רָאַם; a wild bull (from its conspicuousn

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 10 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus (3 verses); never once in the other 32.

3
Exodus
1
Deuteronomy
1
1 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Psalms
1
Ezekiel
2
Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.